x TO THE READER

plains ; a shapeless state, a condition of men and manners as unlovely as is that moment in the year when winter is gone and spring not come, and the face of Nature is ugly. I shall not dwell upon it here. Those who have seen it know well what I mean. Such transition was inevitable. Let us give thanks that it is but a transition, and not a finality. Sometimes readers inquire, Did I know the Virginian? As well, I hope, as a father should know his son. And sometimes it is asked, Was such and such a thing true ? Now to this I have the best answer in the world. Once a cow- puncher listened patiently while I read him a manuscript. It concerned an event upon an Indian reservation. " Was that the Crow reser- vation?" he inquired at the finish. I told him that it was no real reservation and no real event ; and his face expressed displeasure. " Why," he demanded, " do you waste your time writing what never happened, when you know so many things that did happen ? " And I could no more help telling him that this was the highest compliment ever paid me than I have been able to help telling you about it here I CHARLESTON, S.C., March 3ist, 1902.